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Author
Topic: just a scratch? (Read 13118 times)

Hi there. I had an active account before the website changed but could not find my past thread, so I created a new account. Did it automatically delete?

I went out with a friend of mine to a club on Friday night and we engaged in very very deep kissing, where he sucked my bottom lip a lot. I had a wound on my that lip which was healing and which was at times oozing little fluid, but not blood. Anyways, while we were kissing, I tasted blood and have been scared ever since. In addition to that, he told me that he had made a huge mistake by sleeping with a woman (I assumed it to be a prostitute) and getting tested afterwards. My fear - what if it was his blood in his mouth and it came into contact with my wound. Is there any risk? Three days later I got really sick - swollen tonsils and flu-like symptoms.

You and your buddy could easily have passed germs back and forth during your kissing moments. That's a not uncommon occurence.

However, there was no risk of HIV transmission in that incident. Theoretically it could happen but in the real world of HIV it just doesn't, never has and you aren't going to make history by becoming the first to be infected through kissing.

If your symptoms persist you should discuss them with your doctor. There's no need for HIV testing.

Seriously. Its no risk. Which, if you have been here before, you knew already. I hope you find a way to overcome your paranoia regarding HIV transmission. In the meantime, I'd avoid human contact of an intimate nature.

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"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

Guys, I'm still worrying. I tasted blood when we were kissing and I'm afraid it came into contact with the wound on my lip....please help put me to ease. I'm going on vacation tomorrow and I don't want to keep worrying about it!

Guys, I am freaking out, only because I have been dizzy for 2 weeks and worry it is HIV related. I have been experiencing whooziness, disorientation, and headaches which have all not subsided yet.

I tasted blood while deep kissing him, and I had a wound on my lip that had not healed. He sucked my lip a lot as well. I'm terrified that the blood came into contact with it, passing the virus onto me. Please tell me that I am fine and nothing is wrong!

Obviously you're not fine and something is wrong. However that something is not HIV. Kissing, even in the manner that you describe, just isn't a risk for HIV infection. If you feel ill, please see your doctor.

I was at a hockey game and went to the washroom. I touched the garbage can when throwing out the paper towel and noticed blood on it. I had a hang nail on my finger and I am worried I contacted the blood right there. Is transmission possible if the blood on the surface of the garbage contacted my hang nail? The blood didn't look dry yet, as it was a red color (not brown). Thanks!

I'm just worried the hangnail was bleeding or oozing fluid - it was rather new and stung when touched. If it was open and it contacted the blood on the garbage can, there is still no risk of transmission?

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

I've merged your new thread into your original thread - where you should post all your additional thoughts or questions. It helps us to help you when you keep all your additional thoughts or questions in one thread.

If you need help finding your thread when you come here, click on the "Show own posts" link under your name in the left-hand column of any forum page.

Please also read through the Welcome Thread so you can familiarize yourself with our Forum Posting Guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation.

You've been hanging around this website long enough now to know that this latest thing you bring to us is not a risk for hiv infection.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

I went to a washroom and noticed blood on the wall of the the stall I was in, right by where the toilet paper hangs. I am worried that the toilet paper contacted the blood, which then contacted me. I noticed blood on the toilet paper after wiping - I tend to bleed when I wipe my anus. Anyway, what is the risk of hiv transmission if blood on toilet paper contacted my anus, which was bleeding (from wiping).

No risk. The virus isnt transmitted that way. No matter what type of spin you put on it there is NO WAY it happens.

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LIFE is not a race to the grave with the intention of arriving safelyin a pretty and well-preserved body, but, rather to skid in broadside,thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--WOW! WHAT ARIDE!!!

I'm back again. I feel as though everything happens to me and because of my anxiety disorder, it feels worse to me. I do want to thank you all, for helping me through this. Even though my worries are sometimes illogical, your words REALLY help me.

My story:

I went to get my nails done at the spa on the weekend (fake nails), and the lady that did them did not clean her area up from her past client. Anyway, she was using a paper towel that had a red patch on it - I couldn't tell what it was....it almost looked like someone was wearing heavy blush and then wiped it on the towel. Anyway, there were also red specks on it. My fear, of course, was that it was dry, drying blood, or dry blood speckles. Anyway, I am worried because after putting glue on the plastic nail, she always wiped the nail on the paper towel, most of the time on top of the red spot, before gluing hte plastic onto my nail. So....with that, I'm worried that I have blood particles in my nail. I am ready to rip the nails off I'm so worried. I know that blood cannot penetrate through unbroken skin (and in this case, on my nails and maybe the skin near/surrounding my nails), but if the blood stays on long enough and it is HIV+ blood, can penetration occur, causing infection? The fact that I still have blood particles on my nails and skin gets me sick!

Guys, please help. I know you are probably so annoyed with me and my phobia, but you have to understand that you do help me so much. I have gone to a therapist, and I am taking Effexor XR, an antidepressant that I am sure you have heard.

This is not a risk. And dont go destroying a great nail job over this either. This is your anxiety again. Try to let it go.

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LIFE is not a race to the grave with the intention of arriving safelyin a pretty and well-preserved body, but, rather to skid in broadside,thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--WOW! WHAT ARIDE!!!

I just re-read what I wrote and realized that I worded it wrong. I am assuming the red spot was blood, not just the speckles. If this is true, there is still no chance whatsoever, correct?

I am praying I will one day get over this phobia. Thank you Andy and ACkinKC for your words.

still no way no how.

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LIFE is not a race to the grave with the intention of arriving safelyin a pretty and well-preserved body, but, rather to skid in broadside,thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--WOW! WHAT ARIDE!!!

I wasn't thinking just now. I had a hangnail right by my thumb nail and pulled the hanging skin off. I started to bleed right in the crack between my nail and my skin, some of the blood moving under my nail! It happened right where the lady brushed the nail on to the paper towel. Still no risk at all?

I was walking home from a club downtown and kicked something while walking. I worried all night, thinking it was a needle. I went back the next day to examine the area (a lot of homeless people and drug addicts walk on that particular street) and didn't see anything, but there was a lot of garbage on the ground in that area. What is the chance of transmission if someone like me gets pricked by a needle fron a drug abuser? Please help me in this regard. I'm worried that from my examination of the site the next day, that I got pricked by something.

PS- I just read back up through your thread. Thought you sounded familiar. Another one of those bizarre environmental contact scenarios you keep coming back here with. Come on...give us a rest already. There are people here dealing with REAL risk issues- not to mention people struggling with life issues who are already dealing with this virus in the real world. Read the Lessons section here and get wised up on how HIV really transmits from person to person. Enough with this.

I was walking home from a club downtown and kicked something while walking. I worried all night, thinking it was a needle. I went back the next day to examine the area (a lot of homeless people and drug addicts walk on that particular street) and didn't see anything, but there was a lot of garbage on the ground in that area. What is the chance of transmission if someone like me gets pricked by a needle fron a drug abuser? Please help me in this regard. I'm worried that from my examination of the site the next day, that I got pricked by something.

Thanks

If this continues to happen you have one of two options to choose. First, DONT EVER LEAVE YOUR HOUSE AGAIN.

Or second, please PLEASE seek the help of a mental health professional to help you with your anxieties. We cant. And you desperately need it.

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LIFE is not a race to the grave with the intention of arriving safelyin a pretty and well-preserved body, but, rather to skid in broadside,thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--WOW! WHAT ARIDE!!!

Thank you thunder34. I keep getting anxiety attacks now and am ready to hurt myself as a result. This all started from a non-risky sexual exposure 2 years back and I will never forgive that fellow for ruining my perception of how I'm supposed to live on.

My question though - if a random person gets pricked with a drug needle lying on the street, is there a chance of transmission? Is this considered an environmental exposure? Please advise. I am 99.9% sure this didn't happen to me, but just the thought makes me feel like fainting!

No, not even in that kind of scenario, I don't believe. HIV dies very quickly outside the body and it would have to be a much quicker and more direct exchange from sharing a needle with someone infected to make anything like that happen.

That's all the entertaining I am going to do for this kind of senseless panic. You do have an issue, but not from HIV. You really and truly need to get yourself into some pyschiatric counciling to deal with your anxiety issues. It isn't fair to expect us to spend time and energy to nurse your mental health problems. We simply can't do that service here, and shouldn't be expected to either.

Thank you thunder. Can someone else confirm this for me please? I want to be 100% sure I wasn't at risk.

Thank you again.

Then read the Lessons section here for your peace of mind. Besides, this kind of useless worry story has been countered countless times on this forum. Scan a bit and pick a thread. Nobody else needs to spend time entertaining your panic attacks anymore. Enough already.

Thank you thunder. Can someone else confirm this for me please? I want to be 100% sure I wasn't at risk.

Thank you again.

Thunter is 100% correct. I would heed our advice as well as you are cruising for a time out to encourage you to seek the face to face counseling we cant provide here.

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LIFE is not a race to the grave with the intention of arriving safelyin a pretty and well-preserved body, but, rather to skid in broadside,thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--WOW! WHAT ARIDE!!!